er chide, but little they looked for this chance, till it was
done ere they could stop it. They said they heard her tongue
babble in her head, and call, "Whoreson, whoreson!" twice after
the head was off the body. At least, thus they all reported
afterward unto the king, except only one, and that was a woman,
and she said that she heard it not.

VINCENT: Forsooth, this was a wonderful work! What became, uncle,
of the man?

ANTHONY: The king gave him his pardon.

VINCENT: Verily, he might in conscience do no less.

ANTHONY: But then was there almost made a statute that in such a
case there should never after be granted a pardon, but (if the
truth were able to be proved) no husband should need any pardon,
but should have leave by the law to follow the example of that
carpenter, and do the same.

VINCENT: How happed it, uncle, that that good law was left unmade?

ANTHONY: How happed it? As it happeth, cousin, that many more be
left unmade as well as that one, and almost as good as it too,
both here and in other countries--and sometimes some that are
worse be made in their stead. But they say that the hindrance of
that law was the queen's grace, God forgive her soul! It was the
greatest thing, I daresay, that she had to answer for, good lady,
when she died. For surely, save for that one thing, she was a full
blessed woman.

But letting now that law pass, this temptation in procuring her
own death was unto this carpenter's wife no tribulation at all, as
far as men could ever perceive. For she liked well to think upon
it, and she even longed for it. And therefore if she had before
told you or me her intent, and that she would so fain bring it so
to pass, we could have had no occasion to comfort her, as one that
were in tribulation. But marry, counsel her we might, as I told
you before, to refrain and amend that malicious devilish intent.

VINCENT: Verily, that is truth. But such as are well willing to
do any purpose that is so shameful, they will never tell their
intent to nobody, for very shame.

ANTHONY: Some will not, indeed. And yet are there some again who,
be their intent never so shameful, find some yet whom their heart
serveth them to make of their counsel therein.

Some of my folk here can tell you that no longer ago than even
yesterday, someone who came out of Vienna told us, among other
talking, that a rich widow (but I forgot to ask him where it
happened), having all her life a high proud min